General Policies
Apr 25, 2024 03:39 PM
General Policies 2021-2022
Thank you for choosing The Dance Stop. The following policies can be helpful this upcoming dance season. Our staff is ready to help in any way so please let us know if you have any further questions. Looking forward to an exciting year ahead!
Tuition:
Tuition is paid by session (every two months) and must be paid during the first week of a new session. If a child misses a class for any reason, they are welcome to do a makeup class at your convenience. We do not pro-rate sessions for missed classes. After the second week of a
new session, tuition is considered late and a $15 late fee will be assessed. Any bounced checks will have a $30 fee charged. We are in the process of implementing a new computer system which will allow parents to auto-pay. We will keep you informed when that system is in place.
Snow Days:
Occasionally, the studio may have to close due to inclement weather conditions. We will leave an outgoing message, send out an email, and post on Facebook when we close the studio. A decision is made in the early afternoon and does not necessarily follow school
closures. If you are in question, please check the options listed above. Snow days can also be made up at your convenience.
Holidays:
We will break for the holidays throughout the year. If you have classes that fall on certain holidays you are welcome to attend makeup classes at any time throughout the season. Tuition is charged per session. We do not charge extra for months that have 5 classes, nor do we prorate months with missed classes due to holidays.
Dress Code:
While instructors may vary their classes’ dress code, the following are the general dress code policies for The Dance Stop: Ballet students are required to have hair in a bun and wear leotards, tights and pink ballet shoes to class. Jazz students are required to have form fitting clothes and split sole jazz shoes. Hip Hop students are required to wear comfortable relaxed fit dancewear and sneakers (please do not wear dirty sneakers on the dance floors). Contemporary students are required to wear formfitting dancewear. It is also strongly recommended to take a ballet class along with contemporary class. The basis of contemporary comes from ballet. Tap students are required to wear form fitting dance clothes and tap shoes. Acro students are required to wear form fitting dance clothes and socks. Creative Dance and Combo students are required to wear any type of leotards and tights, tap and ballet shoes. NO JEANS OR JEAN SHORTS ARE PERMITTED IN ANY CLASS.
Studio/Classroom Etiquette: We want all of our students to have an enjoyable and educational dance experience. We will treat you and your children with courtesy and respect. We expect our students to show the same attitude toward their instructors and fellow dancers. We request
that your children observe the following simple rules:
* Pay Attention to your teacher – Don’t talk with your friends during class! It disrupts the whole class and makes it difficult for the teacher to communicate with the students. Meet your friends before or after class for social fun.
* Food or drinks are permitted in the waiting area ONLY. Be careful – spills ruin the floors and food attracts bugs. You may have snacks in the waiting area, but please dispose of your trash properly. Water bottles are the only liquid allowed in the classrooms with your name on them.
* Do not pull up on or hang from the Ballet Barres. They can be pulled from the wall or you can get stuck in them. Barres are for balance and support.
* Come prepared to dance – attire, attitude, ambition, energy!
Parent/Guardian Etiquette:
* Have your dancer dressed in the proper dress code for their class with hair done beforetheir classes begin.
* Drop dancers off no earlier than 15 minutes before their scheduled class time. We cannot be responsible for the care of your children before and after class.
* Show up on time. Students who arrive more than 15 minutes past the start of their class time may be asked to sit and watch since they will not be warmed up and ready to dance. (If you know in advance you will be late, please contact the studio so we know).
* Parents/Guardians are not allowed into the dance studio during regular scheduled classes unless invited by the teacher. We ask that you please wait in the lobby.
* We appreciate that our families feel at home at the studio however we don't want to compromise our ability as a staff to serve your needs. We ask that the students please use the designated dressing areas and bathrooms and that the parents remain in the waiting area. If you have any valuables that you want to leave at the desk, we will be happy to store them for you.
* Parents/Guardians should always be encouraging to their young dancers and help to support them to work hard and meet all of the challenges that dance provides.
* Refrain from negative comments and conversation regarding studios, parents, teachers and other students.
* Parents should not judge other dancers at the studio. We treat all students equally; no student is better than another. Parents need to respect this also.
* Parents/Guardians should respect the decisions of the faculty. If you have a problem or concern, we encourage you to promptly set up a meeting outside of class time to discuss the issue with us instead of causing drama among the other dancers or parents.
* Parent/Guardians should make sure their dancers are at all rehearsals, performances and classes.
* You are helping to build a foundation for self esteem and confidence. Each rehearsal and class is pertinent to the success of your dancer.
* Tuition/Costume Fees/Recital Fees are the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian.
* Please be prompt in picking up your child at the end their class, especially at the close of the day/night. This will insure the safety of our students and staff.
Please make sure your account stays up to date so that your dancer can continue in our program successfully. Failure to keep your tuition paid will result in your dancer having to be pulled from classes. Please see the tuition rules and regulations for more information. Always stay positive and encourage your dancer to try their best and to have fun while learning how to dance!
Communication:
We want your experience here at The Dance Stop be a positive one. Please contact the front desk staff whenever the need arises. Most of the time, the front desk staff can help you with your concerns. If you need to discuss anything with an instructor, please see the front desk or email the administrative staff to set up a conference. Unfortunately, instructors do NOT have time to talk between classes.
Recital:
We hold an annual recital in June. All students are welcome to participate. This is not mandatory and any student who chooses not to participate is welcome to dance throughout the year. We encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity. Information, including
recital costs, will be provided well in advance.
Performing group:
The Dance Stop offers a performing group program for dancers who are more committed to learning about the dance world on a competitive level. Performing group students will have the opportunity to receive more advanced training, learn more challenging choreography, and to compete at local and regional competitions. Performing group students will also have the opportunity to participate in conventions (master classes taught by professional choreographers). If your child has an interest in getting involved, please see the front desk for further information.